Routering machine



May 24, 1938. J. E. ALWARD ET Al.

PM'JUJTERING` MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. l5, 1955 INVENTOR.

v MK. Q. kv

ATTORNEY,

May 24, 1938. J. E. ALWARD x-:T A1.

l ROUTERING MACHINE Filed Aug. l5, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lllllll lllllllllllllllllll Illlllllll May 24, 1938. J. E.A ALwARD ET Al.

ROUTERING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. l5, 1935 INVENTORJ. dof/o' l. HLW/973D wo l0/m' M 7002315 ATTORNEY.

Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a routering machine. While this term routering machine is especially applicable to machines intended for operating on wood for the primary purpose of making patterns, the name has been used for the lack of a better term, as the invention relates to a machine which may be used for operating upon wood and metal with equally satisfactory results.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine in which speed and accuracy may be obtained in the fabrication or forming of a work-piece to pre-determined sizes, shapes and formations.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this class so constructed and arranged that the parts which hold the workpiece may be moved in various directions, horizontally and vertically, and tilted to various angles so that the work-tool may be brought into operation upon the work-piece with a resultant of variation so as to effect the formation of the various shapes desired. t

Another object of the invention is the provision of a work-tool adapted for rotating on its aXis and so positioned relatively to the work-piece holder, that the work-piece may be moved into various positions relatively thereto and brought into contact therewith at these various positions.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a method of forming a Work-piece into various shapes and formations which consists in rotating the work-piece upon different axes which are extended therethrough, which is generally accomplished by mounting the work-piece on different centers for rotation during different periods of operation in the formation of the device.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by a reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of the invention with a part broken away and a part shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, sectional View taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a sectional of Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, enlarged, sectional view taken on line 8 8 of Fig. 1.

view taken on line 1 1 Fig. 9 is an enlarged, sectional view taken on line 9 9 of Fig. 3.

Fig. l0 is a sectional View through an attachment used with the invention.

Fig. l1 is a View taken on line Il ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a view taken on line i2 !2 of Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 is a front elevational view of a part of the invention showing the head stock extended vertically instead of horizontally.

Fig. 14 is a semi-diagrammatic view of the work-engaging plates shown inr cross section and partly in side elevation.

Fig. 15 is a view taken in line |5 I5 of Fig. 14.

The invention comprises a supporting table 20 on which is mounted a slide bed 2l having ribs 22 and 23 projecting upwardly therefrom. 'Ihese ribs engage in the V-shaped grooves 24 and 25, respectively, which are formed on the under surface of the carriage 26. Plates 21 are secured to the carriage so as to embrace the outwardly projecting flanges 28 which are mounted on the slide bed 2l. Projected through the forward end 29 of the bed 2l is the rotatably mounted screw 30 on which is iiXedly mounted the hand-wheel 3i whereby a rotation of this screw may be effected. This screw 36 is threaded through the nut 32 which is secured by the bolt 33 to the carriage 2S whereby the carriage may be moved back and forth on the bed 2! This hand-Wheel 3| is manually rotated and, thus, there is provided a means for reciprocating the carriage on the bed which serves as its support.

FiXedly mounted on and projecting upwardly from the rear end of the bed 2l are the spaced supporting standards 34 support and which are secured to the bed-forming member comprising the side walls 36 and 31 which are secured throughout their length rby the bed plate 38 and at their forward ends by the cross plate 39. Fixedly mounted on and depending from the under surface of the bed plate 38 is the channel-shaped guide strip 48.

Mounted on and secured to and projecting upwardly from the carriage 26, at its rear end, is a supporting post embodying the side walls 4| and 42, the bottom plate 43, the top plate 44 and the front wall 45. Mounted on the upper surface of the plate 44 is a block 46 which engages in and is adapted for slidable movement in the channel 48. A pair of forwardly projecting lugs 41 and 48 extend from the forward end of the block 46 and threaded through the lug 48 so as to engage at its inner end the lug 41 is a screw 49 having the handle 50 whereby a rotation of the same may be manually effected. These lugs are normally in such close relation as not to engage the side walls of the channel 49 with sufficient friction to resist slidable movement therein. However, when the walls are spread apart by rotating the screw 49 this frictional enand 35, which serve to 2 gagement may be increased to such an extent that the block 46 will be locked against slidable movement in the channel 48. The bed 25, when reciprocated by rotation of the screw 38, will, of course, carry with it the supporting post and the various parts mounted thereon. Y

Journalled in a boss 5| formed on the carriage 26 is the reduced lower end 52 of a screw rod 53, Fixedly mounted on the lower end of this rod 53 is a pinion 54 which meshes with the worm 55 mounted on the transversely extended rod 56 which projects outwardly from one side of the carriage 26 through the bearing 51. Mounted on the outer end of this rod 56 is a hand wheel 58 whereby a rotation of the same may be effected. The upper reduced end 59 of this screw rod 53 is journalled in the block 6|] which is attached to the wall plate 45 and the block 46 as shown in Fig. 4. The screw rod'53 projects throughY the nut 6| which is attached by means of the screw 62 to the transversely extending plate 63. As shown in Fig. 3, the forward face'of the wall 45 is recessed at 54 to accommodate the screw rod 53 and the nut 5|. This face 45 is also cut away to provide the outwardly projecting ribs 65 and |55 which engage in the recess 51 and form a dovetailed slidable connection with Ythe plate 53. A

separate Vstrip 68 is positioned between the portion 59 carried by the plate 63, and the rib 55 by means of screws not shown.v This strip may be forced inwardly against the rib 66 to vary the resistance of the same to slidable movement. upwardlyand downwardly. It isthus believed obvious that upon a rotation ofthe screw rod 58, which will effect a rotation of the screw'53, the plate 63'may be reciprocated vertically. Slidably mounted on the plate 63 is a block 1 I. The lower end'of the plate 63, at 'away as at 12 and in this recess engages a loose adjusting strip 13 which may be adjusted as to pressure on the recess 12 by means of the set screws not shown which thread through the plate'1l. The upper edge of the plate 53 is cut away to provide the flange 1B, engaging behind which is a plate 11` which is'secured to the block The forward face of the block 1| is cut away as at 18 to provide the circular boss 19 having the inclined peripheral surfaceV formed at the cut away .portion 18. Engaging over the portion 19 is a circular recess 81 formedin the plate 8|] having the guide 'and'supporting ribs 8| and 82 projecting outwardly from the outer face and extended horizontally.' The bolt 83 which projects through the member 1| of the member 8D serves to connect these parts together and by loosening of the nut 84 the member 80 may be rotated relatively to the member 1| on the bolt 83 as an axis. Upon tightening the nut 84 these parts may be locked in fixed relation. Graduations are formed on the periphery of the member 1| at 85 which cooperate with graduations Yformed on the Yinember at 8,6 so that the degree of rotation of the member 8D relatively to the memberi may be indicated.

'I'he'member 1| is adapted for slidable movementtransversely on the member and this slidable movement is effected by rotation of the screw rodV 88 which is threaded through a nut or lug 89 projecting' rearwardly from the member 1|and engaging in the recess 9|! which is formed inthe outer face of the member 63; As clearly shown in Fig. 3 this screw rod 88 extends from end to end of the platev B3 and is journalled at its opposite ends in plates 9|' and 92. Upon each end of the screw rod 88 is fxedly mounted a pinion Vhave provided a means its forward side, is cutY 93 which engages with a pinion 94 fixedlymounted on the'shaft 95 on which is xedly secured the hand wheel 95. Thus by rotating the hand wheel 9E at either side of the device, a reciprocaton of the plates 1| transversely of the carriag'e is effected, this plate, of course, moving in unison with the member 80. in Fig. 5, the plate 80 is provided with a circular flange 91 which embraces the circular cut away portion 19 of the block or plate 1|. Thus, we for moving the plate 80 As clearly shown upwardly and downwardly by moving the plate 63 upwardly and downwardly. We have also provided a means for moving the plate 88 transversely of the carriage by means of the screw rod 8S. Moreover, the plate 88 is tiltably mounted so that it may be tilted to various anglesrelatively to the horizontal and this angle of tilt will be indicated by the graduations formed at 8B and 85. It'is'` thus obvious that a substantially universal movement of the plate 8D is possible.

VSlidaloly mounted on ribs 8| and 82 at one side'of `the plate 85 is a plate 98 to which is secured by means of the bolts 99 a supporting bracket ||l|. porting bracket serves as a support stock |82.

Slidably mounted site side is a bracket for a head on the plate 80 at the oppo- |3 which carries a tail stock lilhaving the movable center which may be moved inwardly and outwardly by means of the hand wheel |85 and clamped in its various positions by means of the screw handle |51. The method for moving the center |05 of the tail stock inwardly and outwardly, of itself; forms no part of the present invention and,` therefore, forms no part of the detail.

The head stock |02 comprises the housing '|83 into which extends the shaft |89' rotatable by the hand wheel ||8 andon which is mounted the worm `meshing with the gear H2 which is'xedly mounted on the shaft ||3. This shaft ||3 extends through the bushings ||4 and ||5 which are mounted in bearings H5 and ||1, respectively, formed on the walls H9 and ||9 of the housing. The outer end of the shaft ||3 is formed hollow with a taper |28 to receive a suitable collet or the like for carrying a center point. This centerpoint may be threaded on the threaded portion |2|. Y

On the flange |22 formed on one side of the housing |88 is a zero mark |23 which is adapted to cooperate with the graduations |24 formed on the periphery of the disk |25 which is secured to the shaft I3 and adapted to rotate therewith.

In general practice, there is mounted on the head stock the plate 28 projecting outwardly from which are the studs |21. These studs are adapted to engage in holes |28 formed in the supporting or' centering plate |29. YIt will be noted that one plate |29 has a center hole |38. In use, these plates would be secured by screws to the work-piece at the proper center line. This center hne would', of course, be determined from the nature ofthe article which it was intended to form. Thus,V when these center platesV are mounted on the work-piece and the work-piece is engaged between thek head stock and the tail stock, a rotation of the shaft |09 would effect a rotation of the work-piece on the determined axis of rotation. When the proper amount of operation on the work-piece has been accomplished on one center line the plates may be removed and reattached at a different center line SO that we have thus provided a method whereby This supa work-piece may be operated upon by a working tool while the work-piece is rotated upon an axis which may be easily and quickly varied, thus making it possible to rotate the work-piece on various axes for operation by the working tool.

It is, of course, obvious that the line determined by the center of the head stock and the tail stock lies in the same plane as the axis of the bolt 83 so that the work-piece, when rotated, will be centered relatively to the rotation or tilting of the p-late 88.

However, in some instances, it will be impossible to so mount the work-piece as to maintain this centering and to this end we have provided the attachment shown in Fig. l0. This comprises a pair of supporting arms |3| and |32, each of which is provided at opposite sides with a slot |33 and with a center slot |34. A supporting bracket. |35 is provided with the table portion |36 on which the work-piece |31 may rest and to which it may be secured by a screw which may be projected through the opening |38. Each bracket is also provided with the upstanding ange |39, between which anges the work-piece will engage and to which the same will be secured by the screw |40. The bracket |35 is secured to the supporting arms by the bolts 4| which project through the slots |33. A nut |42 is threaded on the bolt |4| so that these brackets |35 may be locked in their various positions of vertical movement. A guide rib |43 engages in the centrai slot |34 to guide these brackets |35 on their upward and downward movement. The upper end of each of these supporting arms is provided with a head |43 to which is attached the spindle |44 adapted to engage either the head stock or the tail stock depending' upon which arm is referred to.

Mounted by means of the screws (as shown in Fig. '7) |45 on the plate 39 is a supporting block |46, projecting through which is a shaft |41 carrying intermediate its ends the pinion M9 which is xedly mounted thereto and which engages in the recess |49 formed in the block |46, A pinion |50 is mounted xedly on the outer end of the shaft |41 to engage the worm I5! which is carried by the shaft |52. This shaft is journailed in the lugs |51 which depend from the bracket arm |58 projecting outwardly from the block |45. A hand wheel |59 is xedly mounted on the outer end of the shaft |52 to provide means for rotating the same.

Formed on the upper end of the block |46 is the bearing |60 in which are mounted the roller bearings |61 and |62 through which project the sleeve |63 which is rotatable therein. Fixedly mounted on this sleeve E3 is the pulley 191i which is driven through the medium of the belt |65 of the pulley |66 by-means of the electric motor 61. A key |68 is secured by the set screw |69 onthe lower end of the sleeve so as to engage in the keyway |10 formed in the shaft |1| which projects through the sleeve |63. This shaft |1| is slidable longitudinally in the sleeve |63 and rotates in unison therewith.

The shaft |1| extends through the sleeve |12 and is keyed thereto by means of the key |13v which is held in position by the set screw |14. The lower endof this sleeve is provided with a head |15 which is retained in engagement with the bearing |16 by means of the collar |11 which is threaded on the upper end of the sleeve |12 and threaded into engagement with the bearing |18. These bearings engage shoulders |19 and |80, formed in the bearing head |8|, which is provided with the ribs |82 and a recess |84. Formed in the |46, separate strips |85 |83 engaging in supporting block and |96 are retainedv by the screws |81 to lock the bearing head |81 in position. This bearing head isV provided on its inner face with the rack bar |88, the teeth of which meshes with the pinion |48. The lower end of the shaft |1| carries a suitable chuck |89 in which is mounted a suitable work tool |90 shown in Fig. 10. It is thus obvious that upon a rotation of the shaft |41, the work tool may be raised and lowered as desired.

On the face of the block |46 there is secured a rule |9| bearing graduations which cooperate with the pointer |92 carried by the bearing head |9| so that the degree of vertical movement of the work tool in response to the rotation of the shaft |41 may always be indicated.

It is, of course, obvious that the head stock and the tail stock may be moved toward and away from each other by sliding the brackets |03 and toward or away from each other.

In Fig. 13 we have shown the head stock mounted in vertical position relatively to its carrying bracket |0| and when used in thisposition the work-piece also extends vertically, being connected by the center plate to the head stock.

With a' machine constructed in this manner, the work-piece may be moved to any desired position relatively to the operating tool. These movements are all indicated and may be tabulated if desired in operating upon the work-piece so that it will be a simple matter to reproduce exactly the piece fabricated on this machine. To this end the movement of the carriage inwardly and outwardly would be indicated on the graduations |9| which are formed on the bed 20. Similarly, the transverse movements of the plate 39 may be indicated by suitable graduations. Consequently, an operator working from a working drawing will be `able to construct a pattern or form a various-shaped article out of a work-piece in strict conformance with. the drawing, accurately, without any variations. Moreover, with a machine-of this kind, it becomeS possible to construct patterns and variousshaped articles out of a single piece of metal, whereas, underv the present form of construction, these articles are made from various parts and then gluedor otherwise stuck together.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure'by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a supporting. table; a carriage mounted on said table and slidable rearwardly and forwardly thereof; a supporting standard projecting upwardly from said carriage; means for moving said carriage rearwardly and forwardly of said table; a supporting member mounted on said standard and extending transversely of said table; means for moving said supporting member upwardly and downwardly on said standard; a work piece supporting mechanism; means for mounting said work piece supporting mechanism on said supporting member; and means for moving said work piece supporting mechanism on said supporting member transversely of said table.

2. A machine of the class described, comprising: a supporting table; a carriage mounted on said table and slidable rearwardly and forwardly thereof; means for sliding said carriage rearwardly and forwardly of said table, a supporting standard projecting upwardly from said carriage porting mechanism;

4 and movable Vin unison therewith; a supporting member mounted on said standard; means for moving said supporting member upwardly and downwardly on said standard; a work piece supporting mechanism; an attachment mounted on said supporting member; means for moving said attachment on said supporting member transversely of said table in either direction; means for mounting said work piece supporting mechanism on said attachment for rotation about a horizontal axis; and means for locking said mechanism against rotation on said axis. Y

3. A machine of the class described, comprising: a supporting table; a carriage mounted on said table and slidable rearwardly and forwardly thereof; a supporting standard projecting upwardly from said carriage; a supporting member mounted on said standard and movable vertically thereof; means for moving said supporting member vertically of said standard; a work piece supporting mechanism; Ameans for Vmounting said work piece' supporting mechanism on said supporting member for rotation about a vertical axis and for slidable movement transversely of said table on said supporting member; means for moving said work piece supporting mechanism transversely of said table; means projecting upwardly from said table and overhanging said carriage and extending to a position normally forwardly `of said supporting standard; and means for mounting a work tool on` said projecting means adjacent the forward end thereof for operating upon a work piece carried in said work piece supporting mechanism.

4. A machine ofthe class described, comprising: a supporting table; a carriage mounted on said table and slidable rearwardly and forwardly thereof; a supporting standard projecting upwardly from said carriage; a supporting member mounted on said standard and movable vertically thereof; means for moving said supporting member vertically of said standard; a work piece supmeans for mounting said work piece supporting mechanism on said supporting member for rotation about a vertical axis and for slidable movement transversely of said table on said supporting member; means for moving said work piece supporting mechanism transversely of said table; means projecting upwardly from said table and overhanging said carriage and extending to a position normally forwardly of said supporting standard; means for mounting a work tool on said projecting means adjacent the forward end thereof for operating upon a work piece carried in said work piece supporting mechanism; and means for moving said tool mounting means vertically relatively to said table.

5. A machine of the class described, comprising: a supporting table; a carriage mounted on said table and slidable rearwardly and forwardly thereof; means for sliding said carriage rearwardly and forwardly of said table; a standard projecting upwardly from said carriage; means projecting upwardly from adjacent the rearA of said table and projecting forwardly thereof and moving said supporting member upwardly overlying said carriage; Vand means cooperating with said projecting means and said standardr for guiding the upper end of said standard upon the slidable movement of said carriage relatively to said table.

6. A machine'of the class described, comprising: a supporting table; a carriage mounted on said table and slidable rearwardly and forwardly thereof; means for moving said carriage rearwardly and forwardly of said table; a supporting standard'projecting upwardly from and movable in unison with said carriage; a supporting mem- Y ber mounted on saidstandard; means for moving said supporting member vertically of said standard; a work piece supporting mechanism mounted on said supporting member; andY means carried by said table for engaging the upper end of said standard for guiding the same in its move-` ments rearwardly'and forwardly of said table.

7. In a machine of the class described, a supporting table; a carriage mounted on said table and slidable rearwardly and forwardly thereof; a supporting standard projecting upwardly from said carriage; means for moving said carriage rearwardly and forwardly of said table; a supporting member mounted on Vsaid standard; means for moving said supporting member upwardly and downwardly work-piece supporting mechanism; means for mounting said work-piece supporting mechanism on said supporting member; and means for moving said work-piece supporting mechanism on said supporting standard transversely of said table.

S. A machine of the class ing: a supporting table; said table and slidable rearwardly and forwardly thereof; means for sliding said carriage rearwardly and forwardlyV o-f said table; a supporting standard projecting upwardly from said carriage described, comprisand movable in unison therewith; a supporting member mounted on said standard; means for and downwardly on said standard; a work-piece supporting mechanism; an attachment mounted on said supporting member; means for moving said attachment on said supporting member transversely of said table in either direction; and means for mounting said work-piece supporting mechanism on4 said attachment for rotation about a horizontal axis.

l9. A machine of the class described, comprising: a supporting table; a standard projecting upwardly from said table and slidable rearwardly and forwardly thereof; means for sliding said standard rearwardly and forwardly of said table; means projecting upwardly from adjacent the on said. standard; aV

a carriage mounted on rear of said table and projecting forwardly thereof and overlying said standard; and means cooperating with the upper portion of saidV standard and with said projecting means for guiding the upper end of said standard upon the slidable movement of the same relatively to said table.

JOHN E. ALWARD. JOHN H. MOORE.Y 

